Summary

Background

studies of pain assessment in children with intellectual disabilities have focussed on those with the most severe impairments, highlighting their inability to self-report pain. This study explores pain report by children with mild to moderate impairments as a function of assessed verbal ability.

Participants and method

14 children, aged 8 to 18 years (M=15) with mild to moderate intellectual impairment and no physical disabilities rated pain intensity for 4 vignettes depicting children in pain and for similar personal situations using the Faces Pain Scale—Revised (FPS-R: 0–10) and a 100 mm Visual Analogical Scale (VAS). They then described the quality of pain for each event.

Results

signifiant differences in pain ratings for the 4 vignettes indicated participants’ ability to use the two pain measures. Participants provided up to 9 words to describe the vignettes. Words provided were appropriate.

conclusion

these results counter previous belief that children with limited conceptual abilities could not accurately rate pain. Further research should examine the dynamic communication between these children and those assessing their pain.